It simply isn’t hard to get 1911’s to run. Now that people are modding/gaming Glocks, they are no better in competition than the modded/gamed out 1911’s with regards to reliability- often worse.
No, 15-20 yards isn’t edge case at all. The whole “3 yards, 3 seconds, 3 shots” stuff comes from the LEO killed in the line of duty reports- 3 yards isn’t where the shooting starts- or could start from (or be ended at if they had the capability).
The length of two vehicles isn’t edge case. The distance from a gas pump to the front door isn’t either. Pay attention to the distance of an aisle inside a grocery store.
The whole “shootings are close range affairs” is mostly regurgitated nonsense from people that want an excuse to not practice seriously and train. The days of getting mugged are generally over- in this day and age, a middle aged male that is moderately fit isn’t going to get mugged; if he needs a gun it is most likely a mass shooting/“terrorist” event.
But none of that has to due with hitting and missing. Same shooter, same time on both platforms- you miss more at 5 yards with a Glock than you do with a proper 1911. It applies at all ranges.
It takes about 5 minutes with any decently made 1911 to correct/replace an extractor and drop a proper recoil spring in. In 45 auto with good mags, and full power ammo that generally is all that is required now. In 9mm, it depends on whether it has a ramped barrel or not, but still I haven’t needed more than 10-15 minutes on my tailgate to get them running correctly. Use full power ammo, no issues.
This isn’t some bubba shooting 100 rounds saying this- for most of the last 25 years, my pistol consumption has averaged more than 30,000 rounds a year- most years nearly twice that. Generally evenly split between Glocks- and something else. And being around quite a few people doing the same beside me. My 1911’s and 2011’s simply do not malfunction. Those I’m around do not accept malfunctions with theirs. I had and saw far more malfunctions with G19’s with pistol lights than with Staccato P’s during 2019, 2020, and 2021.
I never had problems with reliability and 1911’s- even in places where everyone swore 1911’s couldn’t be kept running and Glocks were the way- and they always would say mine were the only ones they had seen run. Yet everyone that did what I did had the same reliability. But I also always used certain combinations of springs and mags, and did not “game” the guns out. It’s just not hard to get the guns reliable.
You are excellent with quote breakdowns. Me less so. I'll just number my points.
The global disconnect I think is a comparison between what is optimal for power users (you), vs. what I think is generally the best practice for the bottom 99%.
1. The experience of power users that tune their guns is not a realistic look at what typical folks should be doing. It's like talking about ultra marathon running when a guy is asking how to jog better.
2. Certain 1911s can be tuned by changing out a few parts and avoiding light recoiling ammo. But some of them still choke and power users ditch them.
3. The mass shooting / terrorist point is something I'm sure you'd want back. What do you think the ratio of those events to other lawful uses of firearms? By far the most lawful civilian uses of firearms are nothing like what you described. Most are going to be around or in the home, people you know, at the workplace, or random assault type events. Civilian intervention in mass shooting or terrorist events is exceedingly rare compared to the field. We are probably talking about less than a hundred total in the United States this century?
4. You, of all people, know that the problem in a self-defense event will be adrenaline, lack of training, and what's going on between your ears. You also know that far less than 1% of regular gun carriers are even close to ready to perform in those scenarios.
5. This brings up the safety point. You've shot more than me, though my experience with handguns is notable. If you've gone to similar events as me and interacted with the proficient-but-not-good public, I know you watch even experienced shooters sit there and fail to disengage their safeties with the slightest pressure applied to them. For those people---e.g. the vast majority---safeties are a point of failure.
6. 45 1911s are poor in general reliability but I agree with you they are better than 9mm 1911s. But shooters are much slower with full power 45 1911s, when speed of multiple shots on target does matter.
7. I shoot 1911s more accurately than a modern handgun too, so that point is conceded. Both in terms of accuracy potential of the platform and in terms of practical application. There is no debate. A proficient trained shooter firing a 1911 will achieve more and tighter hits at any distance, as far as that point goes. I don't think it's worth the costs.









